Remnant 2 appears to be a massive hit for Gunfire Games and has thankfully sidestepped the "sophomore slump" that some video game sequels fall prey to. A large part of the title's success can be attributed to the dedicated cult following that Remnant: From The Ashes continues to have, but a larger part is arguably thanks to the ways that Remnant 2 takes the solid foundation of its predecessor and improves upon it by nearly every metric. One of the pillars that definitively sets the sequel apart from the first game is the way that it approaches classes and class customization.

Remnant: From The Ashes offered players three different classes to choose from but was subject to some critique from fans regarding the lack of identity between these three classes. Remnant 2 addresses this by not only featuring 5 starting classes to choose from (referred to in-game as archetypes), but taking it a step further, players can unlock new classes later on, switch to others, and customize hybrid classes once certain requirements are met. Not only does this new approach draw a line in the sand between Remnant 2 and the first game, but it also serves as a model that other co-op shooters with class-based systems could benefit from.

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Class Flexibility in Remnant 2 Helps Players Find Their Preference

Even before players have met the necessary requirements to add a secondary archetype in Remnant 2, the game allows them to switch and not be dedicated to one from the onset. Even though progress is locked to each archetype, the ability to switch things up by meeting some reasonably simple in-game requirements and progress goes a long way toward incentivizing players to try out all the different options available to them. This is contrary to the norm in co-op class-based shooters, which typically require players to roll new characters before they can test out different classes.

As far as two series that could greatly benefit from this kind of flexibility in class choice, the most prominent games that come to mind are Destiny and Borderlands. Both games are co-op shooters with distinct classes and class-specific loot, and imagining how each title could implement Remnant 2's approach toward classes creates some very appealing possibilities. While Destiny's balancing and meta make the likelihood of such a future change slim, the next Borderlands should absolutely give players the option to switch between classes on the fly while still locking progress to each class type.

Remnant 2's Ability to Hybridize Classes Should Be the Norm

Once players have spent 10 trait points across at least one archetype in Remnant 2, they unlock the ability to add a secondary archetype that combines the abilities from their existing class choice with a new one. In the process, players can create unique hybridized versions of classes that cater to their gameplay preferences or dedicated position on a co-op squad. In terms of allowing players some interesting avenues to pursue in build craft as well as facilitating the creation of some truly astonishing squad compositions, this class combination system shouldn't be limited to Remnant 2.

Similar to the first game, Remnant 2 offers up a unique take on both halves of its gameplay. Not only does the title present a unique take on the Soulslike subgenre by combining it with the DNA of a co-op shooter, but it's also injecting some fresh new ideas into the class selection and team composition aspects of squad-based shooters. Even if future entries in popular co-op shooting franchises don't borrow some of Remnant 2's best ideas directly, giving players the ability to mix and match some of the best abilities from multiple class types to suit their play style could be a very welcome addition and draw in some of Remnant's dedicated fanbase.

Remnant 2 is available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

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